Liver Disease Cat

"Liver disease cat has three primary causes. The most common cause occurs when cats stop/refuse to eat. Other causes are bacteria or an inherited condition which bypasses the liver causing toxins to build up in the body. There are successful treatment options for each cause."

Liver disease in cats can be triggered by
something as simple as your cat not eating. If your cat doesn't eat for
more than even 1 day, be sure to consult with your veterinarian to
avoid a liver problem such as hepatic lipidosis. Liver problems can
also be the cause if your cat is vomiting and appears disoriented.

There are several cause of feline live problems.
These include:

Hepatic Lipidosis in Cats

The most common cause of liver disease in cats is hepatic
lipidosis. Another name for this condition is feline
fatty liver disease or FHL. 26% of cats with a liver problem
have this condition. While the exact reason why cats get lipidosis is
not known, it is believed that when cats refuse to eat for a long
period of time, fat builds up in the liver. Another name for the fats
is lipids. As the fat deposits build up, the liver swells causing liver
failure. Symptoms of this condition include:

Drooling

Food avoidance

This type of cat disease liver is thought to be
triggered by other conditions 85% of the time. These include:

To diagnose this feline hepatic lipidosis, your
veterinarian will do a blood test and take a liver sample for testing
(biopsy) using a technique called fine needle aspiration.

Treatment involves making sure your cat starts
eating again, even if you have to force your cat to eat by using an
intravenous feeding tube. Your veterinarian will put your cat on a high
protein/low carbohydrate diet and make sure that phosphorus and
potassium levels are restored. It takes up to 3 months to recover. If
your cat survives for 4 days, then 85% of cats recover.

Cholangiohepatitis in Cats (bile duct
inflammation)

This liver disease cat condition occurs when the
liver and the bile ducts become inflamed. A bile duct is a tube that
carries a yellowish fluid called bile from the liver, where it is
manufactured, to the gallbladder for storage. Bile helps your cat
digest fats that are eaten.

This liver disease cat condition has three causes.

1. Bacteria (Neutrophilic):
when bacteria travels up your cat's small intestine moves up the bile
duct to the gallbladder and liver. Other related conditions are
pancreatitis and IBD (inflammatory bowel disease).

2. Inflammatory Bowel Disease
(lymphocitic): inflammation in the lining of the
intestines.

3. Pancreatitis
inflammation of the pancreas.

Symptoms of cholangiohepatitis in cats includes:

Jaundice: ears, skin and eyes look yellow

Anorexia: lack of appetite

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Depression

Weight Loss

Bad mouth odor

Treatment of cholangiohepatitis includes making
sure that your cat eats and is hydrated such as the use of a feeding
tube. If your cat is suffering from a bacterial infection then
antibiotics will be prescribed. Conventional medications such as
Actigall and prednisone (both for inflammation).

Your veterinarian may also recommend a homeopathic
remedy that contains milk thistle such as PetAlive
Liver-Aid which is made to naturally eliminate toxins and
strengthen resistance against disease and infection in Pets. Milk
Thistle has clinical support for its positive effect on liver function
and is widely recommended by veterinarians. Other herbs such as Burdock
and Greater Celandine also are known for their positive impact.

Portosystemic Shunt

This is a liver disease cat condition that is
inherited. The problem occurs when digested food is absorbed into the a
vein called a portal vein. Instead of carrying digested food to the
liver, in a cat with this problem it carries the digested food to the
blood and heart. Without the liver removing toxins, ammonia builds up
in the system causing symptoms such as:

Drooling

Weight Loss

Diarrhea

Seizures

Circling

The condition is diagnosed with a blood test and
an x-ray of the liver. Treatment involves placing your cat on a low
protein diet. The condition may cause an ulcer. Surgery can correct the
way blood flows. After surgery, your cat can live a normal life.